Facts on Modern Day Slavery

Modern-Day Slavery

Slaves are people who are forced, deceived or threatened with violence to work without pay and they are not able to leave. They have no rights whatsoever and are held in bondage.

They are owned or controlled by a “manager”, treated as a product, bought and sold as property, have limitations of movement, or are dehumanised.

Facts on Slavery

·       There are 27 million slaves in the world today, and half of them are children.

·       There are more slaves today than in any other time in history.

·       An estimated 600 000-800 000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year.

·      Slavery isn’t legal anywhere, but happens everywhere.

·       Young boys and girls in every city on the earth today are forced into sexual slavery

·       1.2 children are trafficked every year.

·       $90 is the average cost of a human slave around the world.

·       There are approximately 250 000 child soldiers worldwide.

·       Majority of slaves can be found in Asian and African countries.

Types of Slavery

·       Bounded labour: to repay a loan, they are forced or deceived into labour and can’t get out of it, as the loan is never compensated. This is the most common form of slavery with about 20 million people.

·       Sexual slaves:  are people who are sold, kidnapped or forced into prostitution against their will. Sexual slavery is usual hidden behind the word “prostitution”.

·       Trafficking:  the transport and/or trade of human beings: labour or sexual slavery.

·      Early and forced marriage.

·      Child labour: many children are sold into labour by deception or force; they work in very dangerous conditions.

·       Forced labour: when people who are under threats are illegally recruited and forced into work, often by governments. Child soldiers are examples of this.

·       Traditional or “chattel” slavery: when humans are bought and sold as products. They are often kidnapped, inherited or given as presents.

·       Slavery by decent: slaves’ children are forced to work and live in slavery as they were born into it. Sometimes the children have to keep working to “pay” off their parents’ “debts”.

Our Part

We are have a part to play in freeing the slaves. Every little action we take to end slavery makes a difference. Don’t be overwhelmed by the problem, start being part of the solution. Here are some practical ways:

·       Pray. Pray for those in captivity. Pray for their owners. And pray that slavery will come to an end, that more slaves will be freed.

·       Create awareness. Tell others about slavery. Let others know what most don’t see. Stir people up to do something!

·       Keep informed. Educate yourself on slavery and how you can help.

·       Donate. There are many organisations that are dedicated to freeing slaves. They need our help and also give other ways of helping. Some websites are listed below.

Websites: freetheslaves.net ; antislavery.org ; notforsale.org

The Groans of the Enslaved

27 million. That’s the number of people today who are held in slavery. That’s the number of innocent lives wrecked by bondage and enslaved by others. Denied all the rights of a human being, they are forced into a life as someone else’s property. In the 21^st Century, these slaves are real. We just don’t see them and we just can’t hear them. They are a voiceless people who earnestly want to be free. The groans of the enslaved are reaching up to heaven, but shall we turn a deaf ear? They need a voice. They need you and I.

When we think of slavery, we think of people in slave markets, in chains and fields hundreds of years ago. We see it as a thing of the past. But there are slaves in every country, right under our noses.  Somehow, it’s just not so obvious that there are more slaves today than in any other era in history. Slavery has been covered up and swept under the mat out of sight. Society has turned a blind eye, but the enslaved ones are waiting to be heard; they’re waiting be freed.

We sit in our comfy homes, living our own lives, while 27 million people are held in captivity and can’t go anywhere without permission. 27 million people are being forced into labour, prostitution, war soldiers and other forms of slavery. 27 million people! -27 million people that cannot be ignored. We all have a part to play in freeing the slaves. They are only voiceless because we haven’t given them a voice. The public needs to be told. We have to step into action and stop waiting around for someone else to fix the problem. We need to spark some radical change in this world. We need to free the slaves! Hear and respond to their groans that are rising heavenward........